STACYVILLE – Entering the final season of a standout baseball career at St. Ansgar High School, Sterling Adams is prepared to continue his work on the mound close to home at Waldorf College.

“It’s always nice when you can get a good local kid like Sterling in the program,” Waldorf coach Joe Tautges said.

Adams, a pitcher and third baseman, signed a letter of intent with the Warriors on May 14.

“Playing baseball at the college level means that I get to wake up every morning knowing I’ll be doing the thing I love for four more years,” Adams said. “I am excited to continue my baseball career as a Waldorf Warrior.”

Adams, the son of Adrian Adams, plans to study criminal justice at Waldorf. He said he chose to join the Warriors because of Waldorf possessing a small community atmosphere and the college’s proximity to his hometown of Stacyville.

Adams is currently in his senior season at St. Ansgar. He was named a unanimous all-conference first-team pitcher by the Corn Bowl Conference as a junior in 2013.

During Adams’ junior season, the Saints posted a 13-16 record and tied for second place in the conference with a 10-4 league record.

At the plate, Adams finished his junior year with a .210 batting average, a .437 on-base percentage and a .210 slugging percentage. He collected 13 hits and eight RBIs while stealing four bases in four attempts. Defensively, Adams recorded a .840 fielding percentage with 25 put-outs and 38 assists.

On the mound is where Adams was in the zone. A four-year varsity letter winner and three-year starter, Adams led the Saints with a 7-4 record, 53 strikeouts, a 1.86 earned run average and held opposing hitters to a .174 average in 2013. Adams issued just 24 walks and allowed 31 runs (18 earned) on 51 hits in 67 and two-third innings.

While Adams doesn’t rely on velocity, he’s shown the ability to be dialed in on the mound to locate pitches. It’s an attribute that should suit him well as he makes the transition to the next level.

“Sterling is a guy that throws strikes and competes his tail off and has had success as a pitcher because of that,” Tautges said. “He will have an adjustment period when he gets here, but he is a smart baseball player and should adjust quickly.”